Bottled ※ Brain

I have a new laptop.

I'm on bed rest. For the past three days, I've nursed fever, itchy throat, and joint pains. These are typical flu-like symptoms, so this morning, I went to the University Health Service to have a check-up. It turned out pretty well; the doctor didn't find enough symptoms to suspect swine flu. He prescribed paracetamol for my fever and Vitamin C to boost my immune system. (This is interesting because just last year, I wrote an article for the college paper that an overwhelming number of studies indicate that Vitamin C does nothing to help someone's recovery). On top of that, the doctor advised me to rest for the day. This is what partly irritated me--not that I'm sick, but that I'll be missing class. The prospect of lying in bed, waiting for the next five hours to take my pill, and doing absolutely nothing, when I could have voiced my heart out in the class discussions, was too painful. But as I lie cozily in bed, waiting for the medicine to take its toll, I

I've had plenty of time during the break, much of which I've spent catching up on my reading. These are the books I've finished recently: 1. Going Public With Your Faith by William Carr Peel and Walt Larimore. Locally published by OMF Literature, the book stresses the importance of being witnesses of Christ in the workplace. The authors argue that effective evangelism can be accomplished by daily living for Christ at work. It exposes the pervading scenario of Christians living dual, often irreconcilable lives (1) at work and (2) in church. The main idea is that, as working people, our ministry is our work. The book progresses by showing the general steps of effective evangelism. I'm glad to say, however, that the authors didn't miss out, but in fact stressed, that genuine conversion is solely God's work. The gospel presented is also Biblical and is not watered down. While most, if not all, of the examples in the book are for American readers, the principles are

I went to a local health center in Quezon City for a school assignment. The instructions were: dress simply, pretend you're a patient, and seek medical help. The queue was rather long, the place already crowded even before the clinic opened. But, having come from UP, where people line up for days to pay for tuition, I was not to be discouraged. After asking further directions, I was instructed to go to another clinic, and upon arriving, I got a number. I should be called in a few moments, said the nurse. I talked with people beside me. A lady was bitten by a dog on her finger. This was the second time she was getting anti-rabies injections. A teen, accompanied by his worried mother, was also bitten by a dog. Knowing something about rabies, after having been harassed by wretched dogs myself (thrice, I tell you!), I asked them if these supposedly rabid canines showed weird behavior. They were intently listening, and I sensed in them a need for some assurance that things will be w

Nothing prepares you for med school—or so my friends say. Regardless of what undergrad course you took, you won’t have it easy. It’s clearly a new chapter in life, coupled with dramatic changes so that life is never the same again. I’ve finally moved in to my new apartment, about three blocks from the College of Medicine. Not exactly a stone’s throw away, but enough to save me jeepney fare. I’m rooming with Monch, a friend and blockmate from MBB, and he’s about three years younger—about the same age as Sean—but a thousand times bigger. Imagine that: Timon and Pumbaa . I’m still waiting for Kuya Don to hand in his study table; otherwise, we’re pretty much settled. I did write about handing Slowpoke , my trusted desktop, to my kid brother. Which means, of course, that I won’t have internet in the new place. There’s wisdom in that, I guess. During my undergrad, I’ve spent a significant amount of time in front of the internet, not for academic purposes but, mostly, for leisurely pursui